Environment Wildlife 

Monarch Butterflies to Receive Protected Status

News from the Associated Press on Tuesday: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the monarch butterfly to the threatened species list by the end of 2025. “The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating life cycle,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in a news release.… Read More
highway 17 wildlife crossing Environment Local News 

Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings Project Moves Forward

The long-anticipated Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossing Project reached a significant milestone with completion of the environmental review by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). This is a significant step forward for this project that will enhance both wildlife health and safety and recreational access across the heavily used Highway 17 in an area that is a known… Read More
Forest pine fir Environment Fire Recovery Local News 

California’s Questionable Approach To Fire Mitigation

By Jessica Keating This story explores the interconnections between fire, native plant species, policy, and fire prevention.  The heat, smoke, and soil disruption following fire act as a catalyst to certain plant species which are referred to as ‘fire-following.’ Some of these plant species, such as native wildflowers, bring beauty and awe to our region. These flowers teach us that… Read More
Mount Hermon June Beetle Environment Local News 

Protecting the Endangered Mount Hermon June Beetle

By Gael Norrington It’s summer again and all across the country Junebugs are busy with the business of procreation. Here in the sandhills of the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley, you may encounter a singularly rare species, the Mount Hermon June Beetle (Polyphylla barbata), which is found nowhere else on the planet. Dependent on a limited environment in the… Read More
Ben Lomond County Park Ben Lomond Environment Local News 

California Monarch And Pollinator Habitat Project Approved

The Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) California Monarch And Pollinator Habitat Kit project has been accepted into the Pollinator Habitat Monarch Conservation program through the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Sacramento. Out of 200 applicants, the BLVA project was chosen and the plants will be installed at Ben Lomond County Park on Mill Street as part of an ongoing… Read More
Linda Brodman Quail Hollow Ranch County Park Environment Valley People 

Linda Brodman Appointed to Quail Hollow Board

Friends of Quail Hollow Ranch County Park announce that Linda Brodman has been appointed to the Friends of Quail Hollow Ranch County Park Board of Directors. Linda is a semi-retired Registered Nurse who has lived in Santa Cruz County since 1978. Over the past 30 plus years, she has volunteered with several conservation-minded organizations acting as docent, activist, and steward… Read More
Lake Lompico crew Environment Local News Outdoors 

Lake Lompico: A Labor of Love

Restoration and Demonstration Project in Progress  By Julie Horner Through the San Lorenzo Valley Native Habitat Restoration Program under the auspices of the Valley Women’s Club, the Lompico Pond Restoration and Demonstration Project involves a group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts who have been meeting on the last Saturday of every month to restore a small mountain lake. Affectionately known as… Read More